Event

Down River

SEPTEMBER 27 AT 7PM
Down River
Ben Ratner - Vancouver, BC - 93 min

A hugely popular success at film festivals across Canada, the star-studded Vancouver drama Down River charts the circle of friendship of four women who live in the same building: an actress struggling to reconcile her religious beliefs with her professional ambitions, an artist living under her father's stern gaze, a hard-partying rock singer, and at their center, Pearl, a caring older woman who acts as a mentor and mother for them all. When Pearl abruptly departs from their lives, the younger women must find strength within themselves to face their personal and professional challenges.

Down River is a rare drama led by strong female performances, especially Helen Shaver, who plays the benevolent but sly Pearl. Director Ben Ratner, himself an actor, wrote the parts specifically for the actresses he cast, and infuses their soulful performances with his powerful insights into how challenging it is to thrive as an actress in an industry dominated by men.